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Category Archives: Early Learning Toys

Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

Posted by Lauren on December 3, 2012 2 comments

Ever since my first son was born three and a half years ago, I swore I would not push “boy” toys on him. That I would let his interests guide his play.

This is why he likes to watch princesses and has a baby doll.  It’s also why he asked for a tea set for Christmas.

But I believe there is an element of “boy” that is just engrained in his DNA.

He carries his baby doll around and declares that he will shoot bad guys with her bottle.

He bakes birthday cakes and makes us “lunch” and begs for Nerf guns.

He gets mesmerized by Minnie’s Bow-tique, but wants to be Batman.

And the thing he loves most?  CARS AND TRUCKS!

Every single time a commercial comes on for cars or tracks or trucks he yells, “I WANT THAT!” or “PUT THAT IN MY LETTER TO SANTA!!!”

Because we clearly do not have enough.

Eddie has had this obsession with things with wheels from his first truck—a fire truck that made a ton of racket.

Some of his first words were “truck” and “bus” and “car”.  Daddy drove a “cuck” and mommy drove a “caw” and on his way to daycare he saw “coo busses”.

He would grunt and point out everything that moved when we drove down the street.  Every semi-truck got a “YOOK, MOM!  Dat cuck is HUGE!”

When a child gets a fascination with a certain subject, family and friends are quick to cling to that for gift ideas.  And so our home became over-run with all the things that go—much to Eddie’s glee.

In fact, Eddie’s favorite thing to do with his cars and trucks was to make a “parking lot,” which really just meant lining them all up.

There was no daily task to which he couldn’t incorporate the need of a truck or car.  Taking a nap?  There’s a car for that.  Playing outside?  There’s a truck for that.  Getting his diaper changed?  There’s a car for that.

Eating a snack?

You got it.  There’s a truck for that.

Now, at the ripe old age of three, he is more into racing them.  He wants fast cars and cool trucks.

He loves to be able to build and  take apart and change things out.  It’s probably why he loves his new Smart Max Power Vehicles Set and Legos and trains so much (other posts completely).

He’s into doing things by himself and showing us his new creations.

And wouldn’t you know it?  His baby brother, Charlie has recently taken an interest to things that go too.

I have a feeling that living in this house of boys means cars and trucks underfoot for a few years yet.

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Katie Sluiter is a freelance writer and teacher who should probably be grading papers or changing diapers but is more likely blogging, tweeting, or just overusing social media in general. She chronicles all this on her blog, Sluiter Nation.

Back to School with Imagine Toys… and Katie!

Posted by Lauren on September 10, 2012 4 comments

Since I was five, “back to school” has meant my getting ready to go back to school.

I remember my mom making me try on all my fall clothes and then taking me to get new ones that fit my ever-growing legs.

I always got a new lunchbox, and when I was older, a new back pack.

I remember flash cards of words and flash cards of numbers and addition and subtraction.

There were spelling words to go over and multiplication tables to recite.

When I started teaching over a decade ago, I still bought new clothes and got a new bag, but instead of quizzing myself on facts and words, I was purchasing supplies for my own high school classroom.

These days I am not only getting myself ready to go back, but my three-year old, Eddie, is interested in school too.

There has been a lot of talk about school.  He knows what school is because some of the kids at daycare go to school.  He has even seen a classroom.

This year he begged for a backpack and he got one.

He was so excited about it that I let him pack it with “lunch” to take with him to my classroom while I worked to get ready for the school year.

We were not in my room 10 minutes before he asked to eat his lunch at one of the desks.

While he ate we talked about the things my students would learn.  He was pretty interested in all the books we would read.  That boy loves to read.   So does his brother, Charlie, who is 6 months old.

My boys have been unconsciously preparing for school since birth.

Not only do we read a LOT, but in all our play we talk about how many of whatever toy we are playing with there are.  We name the colors of toys.  We pick out the biggest of the toys.

That is why stackers are so fun for the boys.

I can get both boys involved in this kind of play.  Charlie likes to dump everything off the stacker while Eddie chooses the biggest, then the next biggest, and so on to put it back together. Both are working on special learning; both are working on fine motor skills.

Eddie also likes to count how many things have been stacked, tell me what colors they are, and tell me what the stackers look like (donuts, wheels, etc.).  It’s an exercise in remembering facts, but also in using his imagination.  Today he told me one part of their dog stacker looked like a yellow Lifesaver candy. I told him it was pretty big for that and he made up a little story about a giant eating it in church.  So fun!

So while Charlie makes up stories and practices all his pre-school-type skills unknowingly, Charlie works on his fine motor skills by manipulating a bendy toy and a musical bell toy.

Or maybe he just decapitates the stacker dog when Eddie isn’t looking.

See?  I teach them defensive skills too.

Or something.

Next on my plan with Eddie? Sight words and simple addition and subtraction.  And with Charlie…well, I’m just going to let him continue to try to sit up without getting a rug burn on his face.

What have you been doing to get your kids ready for school?!

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Katie Sluiter is a freelance writer and teacher who should probably be grading papers or changing diapers but is more likely blogging, tweeting, or just overusing social media in general. She chronicles all this on her blog, Sluiter Nation.

Hands-On, Fun Alphabet Practice with MagnaTab

Posted by melissa.t on January 9, 2012 None comments

My young friend, Charlie, practices writing his letters. He thinks it’s fun, not learning! He uses the red magnetic stylus to trace along each upper-case letter, following the arrows, getting practice with his handwriting.

Each letter’s metal beads pop up when touched with the stylus. Redraw and the metal beads retract.

This is hands-on learning at it’s best, learning by doing.

Charlie is using the A to Z Upper Case MagnaTab but the MagnaTab is also available in lower case.

“Hands-on activities mean students have objects (both living and inanimate) directly available for investigation” (Meinhard, 1992, p. 2).

        

Want more ideas for hands-on alphabet learning? Read “10 Playful Ways to Learn ABCs.“

The 10 Best Toys of 2011

Posted by melissa.t on December 1, 2011 1 comments

What are the best toys for kids for 2011 and all time?

The best toys for kids . . . 

. . . allows kids to imagine.

. . . facilitate learning in some area (social, cognitive, motor skills, etc.)

. . . don’t require batteries.

. . . don’t “do it all” for the child.

The 5 best toys of all time according to GeekDad are . . .

1. Stick

2. Box

3. String

4. Cardboard Tube

5. Dirt

Very true! Imagination and open-ended play abound with sticks, boxes, string, cardboard, and dirt.

 

So, inspired by Geek Dad, I’ve made my own top ten list of toys kids this 2011 holiday season, toys you’ll find at Imagine Toys . . .

1. Stacking Block Set (18 months plus)

2. Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game (3 yrs plus)

3. Laser Pegs (7 yrs plus)

4. Furnished All Season Dollhouse (3 yrs plus)

5. Playful Art Set (3 yrs plus)

6. Make Your Own Kaleidoscope Kit (4 yrs plus)

7. Citiblocs (3 yrs plus)

8. Trucky (3 yrs plus)

9. Perplexus Rookie (6 yrs plus)

10. Wheelypig (18 months plus)

 

What toys make your top ten list?

What toys will you be buying this holiday season?

 

Sneak In Learning with Fun Games

Posted by melissa.t on October 27, 2011 1 comments

The Sneaky Chef and Jessica Seinfeld (Deceptively Delicious) sneak vegetables into kids’ food.

So can’t we sneak learning into fun (“educational”) games? 

Of course! :)

In fact, consider all the different kinds of learning and educational games available– board games, active games, electronic games, computer games, video games, and phone and iPad games. That means lots of learning opportunities for your children! (Hint: Holidays are coming soon, this might be a gift idea.)

Board Games

Board games give kids rich learning opportunities and, as Scholastic writes, reinforce skills like:

  • number and shape recognition, grouping, and counting
  • letter recognition and reading
  • visual perception and color recognition
  • eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity
Educational board and strategy games:

Active Games

Active games are gross-motor games like the Play and Score Ball Throwing Game which also reinforces counting.

But, the classic recess games such as Capture the Flag or H-O-R-S-E are great active games as well and require minimal equipment. Some games, such as Capture the Flag, teach social skills and cooperation. The same goes for indoor active games like Indoor Foot Volleyball.

Electronic Games

Electronic Games are games which require a battery.


Computer Games

I’ve looked and there aren’t many computer games available on a disc. You can go online and play games or buy a gaming console like a Wii. For online games, try website Kids.gov which offers parents and educators a long list of educational online games or Kidz Pages which lists many online learning games.

Video Games

The Gates Foundation believes video games can enhance learning and recently donated $15 million to fund learning based video games. Interesting, isn’t it? Games can count as learning, even video games.

iPad and iPhone Games

We use the iPad for educational games, here are a few favorites.

There are so many fun ways that games make learning possible. 
Which games listed or not are your favorites?

10 Playful Ways to Learn Your ABCs

Posted by melissa.t on September 22, 2011 2 comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the parent of a preschooler, you need ways to help your child learn the alphabet. Since we know that kids learn best through interactive play, here are ten fun and playful ideas to help your child learn the alphabet.

1. Sing the alphabet song while marching and dancing around your house. 

There's a good reason to learn with songs — music helps us remember things! Add movement and it's even better.

2. Build with alphabet blocks. 

Say the letters and you help your child build towers and buildings.

3. Read alphabet books. 

There are so many great alphabet books about different things can help reinforce your child's alphabet knowledge. Make your own personalized alphabet book with this book kit software or your own digital photographs. 

4. Make alphabet cookies; eat alphabet cereal or crackers.

My kids love CheezIts Scrabble tiles for yummy alphabet snacks. Don't forget about Alphabits and alphabet soups either.

5. Play Alpha Catch. (photo above and right)

Alpha Catch is an active alphabet catching and throwing game. Each ball is a letter. When caught with the mitt, it sticks with the Velcro. Say your letters or sounds and playfully practice your alphabet – it's fun and practices large motor skills at the same time.

6. Play-dough alphabet.

Get out your play dough and make your name out of your favorite color. An adult can help by providing the letters traced on a paper that the child can cover up.

7. ABC Cookie Game.

No, these aren't real cookies but a cookie jar of games and letters for young children. Brain food is yummy, too!

8. Alphabet puzzles.

I love puzzles for learning, don't you? Kids learn the letters as shapes first – which is why they're writing sometimes is backwards or reversed – the letters don't yet have meaning. Knowing the shape is the important first step in learning the letters. Puzzles reinforce this.

9. Sand alphabet writing.

Find a sandbox or make your own and write your letters in the sand.

10. Make an alphabet sensory tub.

Give your kids a tub filled with wonderful tactile things – beans, rice, pasta, and alphabet letters! If you use magnetic letters, you can "fish" for the certain letters. Or have kids scoop out letters or use big tweezers to practice small motor skills.

 

Everything you do helps your child learn and reinforce the learning. There is no right way to parent or teach – just find what works for your child and make it fun!